Andrea's Travel ABC's: 26 Thoughts From the Editor

This is a fun little post going around the travel blog community where you get to learn a bit more about me and my travel history and preferences. Thanks to Cathy of Traveling With Sweeney for nominating me to participate. It's a bit long so I'll get straight into it.

Age you went on your first international trip: My father took me overseas for the first time when I was 19 to London, France and Italy.

Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where: At the moment I'm in love with Emerson's Pilsner from New Zealand.

Cuisine (favourite): This is a tough one because my answer might be different depending on whether I was eating the cuisine at home or in the particular country. For the sake of this post I'll go with my favourite cuisine when I'm in that country - Thai food. But about five others are coming in at a very, very close second.

Destinations, favourite, least favourite and why: Is it cheating to say New York City since I used to live there and have so many friends and family in the area that it's pretty much one of my homes? Least favourite at the moment is Croatia.

Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”: The Cirque du Soleil 'O' show in Vegas took my breath away. Just in case that doesn't count since I'm an American citizen, I'll also toss in seeing Saturn through a telescope in Kaikoura, New Zealand.

Favourite mode of transportation: Train

Greatest feeling while travelling: Excitement - seeing a new place (or even an old favourite) is exhilarating.

Hottest place you’ve travelled to: Europe can be pretty disgusting in the summer...

Incredible service you’ve experienced and where: We recently returned from Abu Dhabi and we stayed at the Shangri-La hotel there. I can't stop raving about their staff and service.

The view from our balcony at the delightful Shangri-La hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Journey that took the longest: When I first came to Australia to be with my husband, John, I was leaving New York in the middle of a blizzard. My flight was delayed until the following day and when the plane finally took off it was late. I had a cheap ticket that involved two stops and the staff at my particular airline's connection desk decided that all of them taking their lunch break at the same time was more important than processing the incredibly long queue of people needing to catch their next flights. So that caused me to miss mine and also to lose my seat on the third flight. So I had to fly from there to Singapore to Sydney and then finally over to Perth, instead of flying directly to my destination. That one is still the hell journey to which I compare all others.

Keepsake from your travels: A rock from the Red Beach in Santorini where John and I went shortly after we met.

Let-down sight, why and where:Machu Picchu, not because it isn't incredible, but because I was so exhausted and miserable after the Inca Trail experience we had that I just couldn't appreciate it.

Moment where you fell in love with travel: I went to New Orleans with some friends as a teenager and had a simply magical time. It wasn't Mardi Gras or anything, but we stayed with some local friends there and I just remember thinking, "Man I have to see more places."

Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in: 'Nicest' is kind of a vague term and I could probably answer with a few different ones. But I'll go with the fancy place my father and I stayed in Venice on that same trip when I was 19 - can't remember the name of it, unfortunately. It was expensive, sure, but the historical building aspect and view over the Grand Canal was spectacular.

Obsession—what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while travelling?: I love taking photos with people in them. This year I hope to try my hand at portraits.

I really enjoy taking photos with people in action. This one is from my Chilean gaucho post.

Passport stamps, how many and from where?: I have two relatively new passports and my old one, which was almost full when my name changed. I filled up half of one of the new ones last year so let's just say too many to count.

Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where: The Hundertwasser toilets in Kawakawa, New Zealand were pretty unusual.

Unforgettable travel memory: Meeting John in Crete over seven years ago is one that won't ever fade.

Visas, how many and for where?: I've had a couple for Australia in the past but I'm now a citizen there. We got one for Jordan and Turkey this year as well but you just get those on arrival.

Wine, best glass of wine while travelling and where?: Ha! As if I remember it!

eXcellent view and from where?: The views from the Hassler Rooftop Restaurant in Rome are pretty amazing.

Years spent travelling?: Not counting trips with my parents when I was a child, 16.

Zealous sports fans and where?: They're everywhere but the ones I'm most aware of are in Australia, the States, Europe and South America.

I'm supposed to tag a few fellow bloggers now but this post chain has been going around for awhile and I don't know who hasn't done it, so if you want to participate, consider this your invitation from me!

Thoroughly enjoyed this post. Loved the photo of Abu Dhabi and the action photo of the horse. Macchu Picchu– still wondering if you would’ve disappointed if you did have a great experience on your trek. Angkor Wat, for me, was a bit disappointing., despite the searing heat. Didn’t feel it lived up to its hype.